Glossary

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20-80 Scale– the commonly used scouting scale that is often also expressed from 2-8 with 2 being well below average, 8 being plus-plus/elite and 5 being average.

For pitchers’ fastball velocity, it is easy to determine their place on the scale

MPH | Grade

98+ | 80

93-97 | 70

90-92 | 60

88-89 | 50

85-87 | 40

83-84 | 30

82 | 20

A

B

BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play) – a calculation of a batting average on balls that are in play (excluding strikeouts/home runs) for a batter or pitcher can help determine the part that luck plays in any given player’s success or failure. League Average BABIP hovers around .300 (It was .297 in 2012). Generally, batters with a BABIP higher than that .300 are benefiting from luck on balls falling in for hits/opponents’ poor defence while those below .300 are having bad luck. Batters can have the most effect on their BABIP with their speed but little control with their bat. Pitchers’ BABIP against is a good tool for determining if a pitcher’s results are due to luck or whether they are truly dominating or struggling.